I found this book to be a bizarre and confusing story centered on Greek mythology and Salvadore Dali's obsession with the Sacro Bocco. A beautiful model and art student, Julia Lombardi was tired to be Dali's muse for a collection of paintings about this garden. The tale begins confusingly slow, but finally progresses when Julia's friend, Lillian, arrives but not welcomed by the Dali's.

Crystal King's culinary background made the description of the seemingly endless feasts always mysteiously including pomegranates...
Julia's fear of the pomegranates seeds and impending doom. Her wild imagining of Ignazio makes her both fear and desire him.

The conclusion rewards us for sticking it out to the end (I was tempted to stop reading). The author's notes about the real Garden of the Monsters and Dali's short You Tube video about the real Sacro Bocco was disappointing...my imagination of the place was far more sinister.

Pony Confidential turned out to be a charmer...at first thought it to be a kids book but it's a delightful light summer read. The voice of Pony is reminiscent of Mr. Ed (a 60's TV Sitcom) half of the main characters...Penny, is his long lost owner and Pony's quest is to find her 25 years later. Nothing heavy here but a fun read.

An intriguing story about a family overcoming the loss of a father and husband, their previous affluent lifestyle and home...investing in a rundown Hawaiian motel sight unseen and attempting to reopen it. A widow with three kids each having different personalities and needs and then making this idea work...add some romantic interest, a mystery and intrigue and you have a pretty good story...oh, lets not forget a dramatic ending. A very enjoyable and fast read.

Loved the central figure of the story, Rachel, a slave on a plantation, from page one. I truly felt that I was on her journey to find her five children that had been taken from her either by force or stolen in her absence.
Each child was so special to her and fleeing from slavery at great peril drove her on the journey around the Caribbean and South America to find them.

Rachel's great inner strength and resilience was the core of the story...so inspiring. Having a very difficult time recently myself, I found myself reflecting on what Rachel faced and
drawing on her strength as a morther to confront my own loss.

The interesting mix of characters made for a great read that showed gritty determination to complete the journey...with ample adversity along the way with some very scary moments. A wonderful story and the best in a long time for me.

This story of a young nurse who answered the call to serve was a heart-warming read. The historical background of the South in the Roe v. Wade era was most enlightening. Loved Civil's embracing concern for her two patients and her endurance to bring justice to them. I felt the author did a remarkable job chronicling the story of involuntary sterilizations.

Blind Man's Bluff was not only an informative view into the world of a visually challenged young man, but also a very sensitive and often amusing story. Mr. Hill's memoir of coping with diminishing eyesight and never giving up his hopes to be an author, journalist and educator was inspiring...never giving up on love, romance and friendship.

His difficulties as a writer were not any different from other aspiring writer except he managed his vision challenges with patience, persistence and ingenuity. His accounts of learning to get around town and campus were both scary and amusing. Trying not to reveal or discuss his visual limitations was often ill-advised...he really lived a charmed life when relying on counting foot steps and sounds.

The final chapter has advice for others facing similar problems and what he has learned on his journey...so inspiring.

It's not often you pick up a new book and are pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns of the story...Mrs. March does not disappoint. First impression of the title character you are not too sure how to assess Mrs. March then the fun begins. Ms. Feito's writing style feels comfortable from the start. I laughed. I cried...at one point, I seriously thought the story a dark comedy. Thoroughly enjoyed it...my only criticism is the finale could have been a little more surprising or dramatic. Bravo!

Honestly, I don't know if I will finish reading this book. Historical fiction is my niche reading, but this story was touted as a story of a devoted half-sister caring for a much younger sibling at the expense of her own happiness. The sisters are anything but happy and Thea's husband, the Morning Light's captain isn't either. A lot of characters are introduced in this tale but certainly do not add anything to the plot. Get me off this boat quick!!

For fans of historical based novels, Remembrance is an emotional experience into a dark chapter of slavery in the new world. The overlaying stories of the female characters in Dominica in the late 17th century, fleeing to the port city of New Orleans, the American Civil War and Underground Railroad provide a rich background drop for Rita Woods' novel. The characters are interesting and elicited an emotional reader connection to the story.

As well written as it was, I felt myself losing interest in the final chapters which became bogged down with too much dialogue. However, loved the ending with the current day character of Gaelle and think as sequel would be anticipated.

There have been numerous World War II nonfiction stories, but D-Day Girls is an impressive historical work based on years of unparalleled research by Sarah Rose. Not only does the reader learn so much about the war effort in England France, but also the perils of the heroic women (and a few men) involved with the SOE.

The book's format of introducing each of the characters' stories, their code names and individual missions was the key to appreciating each of their participation. The back and forth stories of each person demanded some attention by the reader but so necessary to appreciate the choreography of the D-Day invasion.

Well written and excellent character development made the book compelling and enjoyable to read. One really came away with an appreciation of the hard-fought World War II effort and sacrifices made by so many selfless persons.

"A picture is worth a thousand words", but in the case of Ellis Reed, an aspiring news writer, it was the start of an adventure and mission to correct a terrible mistake. The setting of the story is Philadelphia and New York City in the 1930's long before today's 24-hour news cycle and the Internet, when big city papers were the ultimate news source and it was the hey day of photo journalism.

The central characters of Ellis and newsroom secretary, Lily Palmer, are committed to fixing a wrong for which they both feel responsible. "Sold on a Monday" is fast-paced and hard to put down. A cast of characters faced with life-altering choices make this a compelling story and will hold the reader to its surprising conclusion.

Initially I found it difficult to follow because of the many brief flashbacks in the story, but became more comfortable with the style and the central characters. Beautifully and touchingly written, it is a family's story in America while struggling to maintain their Indian Muslim roots. The theme is so timely where many are rethinking our country's role in helping middle Eastern refugees seeking asylum and our own immigrant past.

Impressed with the author's first work and look forward to reading more from her.

My initial reaction to The Chalk Man was hopeful, that it would be as suspenseful as "Girl on the Train". With a cast of characters reminiscent of "Stand By Me" and the Faulknesque setting in a small-town, the story unfolds between 1986 and today -- a story telling device now popular in current literature.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short lived. The central character of Eddie Adams, the only child of two unconventional people...Eddie's mum is a doctor in a controversial women's clinic and his dad a struggling freelance writer, are good parents and easily win the reader's sympathy and approval.

The opening scene finds Eddie and his four friends at the County Fair where a horrific accident has a lasting impact on all. Fast forward thirty years and Eddie discovers that the unsolved murder of the injured girl from that long ago fair is a real fear again. From there until the story's conclusion, numerous other characters are introduced, twists and turns in the plot ultimately do not lead to a very satisfactory ending.